Written Answers Friday 4 March 2005

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to highlight to women who are pregnant the dangers of drinking and the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive ensures that information about foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is included in appropriate publications for expectant mothers. The NHS Health Scotland book Ready, Steady, Baby  a guide to pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, given to all new mothers, contains a section on alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The risks of FAS are also highlighted in A Framework for Maternity Services (2001) and in Getting Our Priorities Right (2001), offering guidance to agencies on working with families affected by problem drug use. NHS Health Scotland also produces a teaching pack which is distributed to all secondary schools and includes information relating to the effects of alcohol on the body.

Angling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of spring salmon angling is to the economy.

Lewis Macdonald: The report The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland estimated that salmon and sea trout anglers spend some £73.5 million per year. No figures are available to break this down further, but it is recognised that spring salmon angling forms a significant proportion of this angler spend.

Cancer

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many men diagnosed with prostate cancer in each year from 1993-94 to 1999-2000 were still alive five years later, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The tables below show the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer (ICD-10 C61) each year, the number still alive five years from their date of diagnosis, by year of diagnosis and health board area of residence

  Please note: Death information is available up to 31 December 2003, therefore five year follow-up is only available for patients diagnosed prior to 1 January 1999.

  

Health Board area of residence
Year of Diagnosis


Argyll and Clyde
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
129
156
151
172
134
150
163
168


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
39
45
53
71
55
64
n/a
n/a



  

Ayrshire and Arran
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
110
109
110
136
144
148
146
161


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
33
37
32
48
63
75
n/a
n/a



  

Borders
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
40
39
61
73
64
58
34
55


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
11
18
23
27
26
22
n/a
n/a



  

Dumfries and Galloway
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
72
74
81
70
47
74
68
63


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
28
23
36
36
34
32
n/a
n/a



  

Fife
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
134
151
160
179
152
137
123
113


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
53
56
61
70
67
66
n/a
n/a



  

Forth valley
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
140
108
112
151
129
93
138
140


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
64
58
56
78
64
49
n/a
n/a



  

Grampian
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
182
195
223
223
196
230
249
205


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
65
81
102
75
84
115
n/a
n/a



  

Greater Glasgow
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
270
291
288
334
305
285
281
282


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
91
96
106
146
136
123
n/a
n/a



  

Highland
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
74
69
82
71
111
123
124
131


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
31
26
27
23
59
62
n/a
n/a



  

Lanarkshire
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
139
133
167
188
181
185
151
176


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
46
53
71
80
86
88
n/a
n/a



  

Lothian
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
290
352
336
370
313
312
320
374


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
118
161
143
187
163
166
n/a
n/a



  

Orkney
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
12
10
3
10
8
5
7
8


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
5
4
-
4
1
2
n/a
n/a



  

Shetland
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
10
5
6
11
5
11
8
7


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
3
1
2
5
2
4
n/a
n/a



  

Tayside
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
159
151
157
173
157
153
170
161


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
66
56
69
65
70
73
n/a
n/a



  

Western Isles
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
3
6
11
10
15
19
12
6


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
1
2
2
2
8
12
n/a
n/a



  

Scotland
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Number diagnosed
1,765
1,852
1,951
2,171
1,961
1,983
1,994
2,050


Number alive 5 years from date of diagnosis
655
720
785
917
918
953
n/a
n/a



  Source: Scottish Cancer Registry, ISD and General Register Office (Scotland) (GRO(S)).

  Data extracted: February 2005 (Cancer registrations) and August 2004 (GRO(S) deaths).

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering reviewing and increasing the fees payable to dentists for NHS treatment in order to encourage more dentists to offer an NHS service, particularly to those entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

Rhona Brankin: The fees paid to dentists for providing NHS general dental services are increased each year as a result of the recommendations of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB). For 2005-06, the DDRB has recommended an increase of 3.4% in fees and the Government has accepted that recommendation in full and without staging.

  We expect to announce in the coming weeks our response to the consultation Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland, which will include further measures to support NHS dentistry.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new Additional Support Needs Tribunals to be able to hear education cases brought under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Peter Peacock: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is expected to be commenced towards the end of this year, at which time the tribunal system will become operational. The Executive intends to review the operation of the tribunals, as part of a wider review of the implementation of the 2004 act, in early 2007. The outcome of that review will inform whether or not the UK Government should be approached for provision to give the tribunals jurisdiction over disability discrimination cases in Scottish school education.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government in support of the Disability Discrimination Bill, an order in council or other legislative measure being used to ensure that the necessary legislative changes are made so that the new Additional Support Needs Tribunals are able to hear education cases brought under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Peter Peacock: It is not appropriate for the Executive to make any representation to the UK Government on this matter at the present time. A decision about representation will be taken on the basis of the review of the operation of the tribunals, as explained in the answer to parliamentary question S2W-14671 on 4 March 2005, and in light of the outcome of any subsequent public consultation.

Drug Misuse

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies were born with drug dependency, broken down by NHS board, in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of babies discharged from Neonatal Units with a diagnosis involving drug misuse is shown in the table below. Data for years prior to 1997-98 are not available as different diagnostic codes were used to provide analysis of numbers of discharges recording drug misuse. Data for 2003-04 is not yet available.

  Neonatal Discharges4 Recording Drug Misuse5 broken down by Health Board

  

 
Neonatal Discharges Recording Drug Misuse (SMR11)


1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03P


Argyll and Clyde
11
22
34
29
29
33


Ayrshire and Arran
17
23
28
19
26
21


Borders
**
+
**
+
**
**


Dumfries and Galloway
**
5
7
13
13
10


Fife
6
10
15
8
8
18


Forth Valley
7
**
12
15
6
15


Grampian
60
42
67
101
86
72


Greater Glasgow
66
98
109
94
33+
26


Highland
**
5
6
5
**
6


Islands
+
+
**
**
-
-


Lanarkshire
**
**
10
14
19
27


Lothian
16
19
29
18
28
22


Tayside
24
13
5
12
7
19



  PProvisional

  **In order to maintain patient confidentiality, values of one and over and less than five have been suppressed.

  +Incomplete data collection.

  Source: SBR, SMR02 and SMR11.

  Ref: S2W-5284 and S2W-13388.

Economic Development

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with each local authority in north east Scotland with regard to economic development in the next five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland sets out the priorities for action for economic development in Scotland, and recognises that economic prosperity is only secured through the efforts and contributions of a wide range of individuals and bodies, working in an integrated and collaborative manner.

  Local economic forums demonstrate the Scottish Executive’s commitment to partnership working in economic development with membership comprising of key public and private sector representatives including local authorities. The North East Scotland Economic Forum (NESEF) has members from the two local authority areas which cover the north east. NESEF Business 2010 is the economic growth strategy for north east Scotland produced by the forum. The Scottish Executive receives updates on the forum’s progress on strategy and a recent document from NESEF informed us that they are currently working through their strategy. Last year, during a visit to NESEF, the then Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning discussed local economic development with forum partners.

  Aberdeen’s 20 year City-Vision (Energising Aberdeen: creating the conditions for growth) was prepared in 2003 in conjunction with Community Planning partners and stakeholders from across the Aberdeen City-Region, including Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Councils and NESEF. This City-Vision plan aims to place Aberdeen as a leading centre in Scotland’s new economy. Since early 2003, officials from the Scottish Executive have held a number of discussions with officials from Aberdeen City Council on progress made by Aberdeen in taking forward its City-Vision, which is supported by an £11.5 million grant from the Cities Growth Fund (2003-06).

  At a more local level, a partnership of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Aberdeenshire Council, and Communities Scotland has put in place the Building Buchan Action Plan which aims to focus collective resources on building sustainable communities throughout the Buchan area.

  Every local authority in Scotland, including those in the north east, has a representative member on the Scottish Local Authority Economic Development Group. The Scottish Executive is also represented and attends the regular meetings of the main group where economic development issues are discussed.

Education

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the pupil-staff ratio required for special needs teaching.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not issue guidance to education authorities on pupil staff ratios for the teaching of pupils with special educational needs.

  The employment and deployment of school staff working with pupils who have special educational needs is the responsibility of individual local authorities. Class size maxima for special schools are set out in Teachers’ Terms and Conditions of Service.

Education

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities about the closure of rural schools.

Peter Peacock: The Executive’s Education Department issued Circular 2/2004: Additional Guidance on Local Authority Proposals for the School Estate, Including School Closures  in September 2004. The guidance is relevant not just to schools in rural areas. A copy is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34126).

Education

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consults local authorities over school closures.

Peter Peacock: Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, local authorities are responsible for school provision. Under that Act and the Education (Publication and Consultation etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 they are statutorily required to consult parents and school boards of affected schools and relevant church or denominational bodies if proposing school closures. The Scottish Executive has no role in such consultations. Under the same act and regulations, authorities cannot implement certain closure proposals without the consent of Scottish ministers.

Education

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the power to intervene in respect of school closures and, if so, whether this power has been utilised.

Peter Peacock: Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, local authorities are responsible for school provision. The Scottish Executive has a role only in some prescribed categories of school closure proposal as set out in that act and the Education (Publication and Consultation etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981. In summary, these are where the school is more than 80% full; over a certain distance from the alternative school, or in certain specified circumstances involving denominational schools. In such cases, an education authority cannot implement a closure decision without the consent of Scottish ministers.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4697 by Mr Frank McAveety on 15 December 2003, how the £24 million to deliver physical activity for children in school was distributed and what monitoring of outcomes took place.

Patricia Ferguson: The £24 million committed to Active Schools over the three years 2003-04 to 2005-06 will be distributed as set out in the table. Integral monitoring and evaluation arrangements will focus on the number of teachers, coaches and leaders involved in delivery and participation numbers across all age groups. An independent evaluation has also been commissioned.

  

 
£ Million


Distributed to local authorities to support staffing network
23.2


Sporting Champions
0.2


Teacher Release Scheme
0.1


Communication
0.2


Education and Training
0.1


Monitoring and Evaluation
0.2


Total
24.0

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many exclusions there have been from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: The number of exclusions each year since 1998-99 is given in the following tables. Data is not available prior to 1998-99.

  Exclusions From Primary Schools

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen City
131
184
174
172
189
262


Aberdeenshire
30
61
57
69
66
123


Angus
53
32
27
57
104
120


Argyll and Bute
50
108
77
71
71
36


Clackmannanshire
64
71
58
51
68
42


Dumfries and Galloway
74
75
74
103
86
94


Dundee City
499
332
283
362
207
231


East Ayrshire
175
160
222
166
185
197


East Dunbartonshire
35
23
34
21
28
23


East Lothian
43
41
37
60
39
54


East Renfrewshire
4
24
16
20
14
10


Edinburgh, City of
347
420
410
377
327
293


Eilean Siar
1
-
1
2
2
1


Falkirk
92
80
82
98
80
75


Fife
42
94
284
287
327
287


Glasgow City
1,080
975
778
797
589
749


Highland
42
61
56
83
60
65


Inverclyde
94
72
65
69
63
76


Midlothian
83
71
134
105
112
108


Moray
48
67
51
53
62
90


North Ayrshire
88
62
86
62
103
184


North Lanarkshire
309
331
354
420
456
406


Orkney Islands
1
-
1
2
4
6


Perth and Kinross
122
122
167
164
148
194


Renfrewshire
97
280
381
228
200
139


Scottish Borders
64
57
67
62
58
75


Shetland Islands
4
3
-
4
3
16


South Ayrshire
173
109
119
103
49
54


South Lanarkshire
194
167
120
124
152
149


Stirling
40
41
23
36
26
42


West Dunbartonshire
184
188
143
101
104
131


West Lothian
139
184
126
149
149
146



  Exclusions from Secondary Schools

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen City
615
603
664
740
689
674


Aberdeenshire
385
394
532
629
715
805


Angus
419
483
518
592
621
566


Argyll and Bute
552
464
529
539
620
601


Clackmannanshire
284
296
282
257
234
287


Dumfries and Galloway
484
450
489
468
543
673


Dundee City
1,580
1,453
1,430
1,571
1,596
1,653


East Ayrshire
889
1,016
1,091
814
924
1,270


East Dunbartonshire
670
560
665
772
724
582


East Lothian
410
486
411
387
420
416


East Renfrewshire
263
286
254
187
206
212


Edinburgh, City of
1,266
1,227
1,228
1,258
1,402
1,329


Eilean Siar
10
12
17
20
26
24


Falkirk
811
792
724
905
990
883


Fife
2,451
3,042
2,906
2,648
2,821
2,959


Glasgow City
6,570
7,222
6,326
5,764
5,504
5,922


Highland
524
456
661
674
677
758


Inverclyde
806
927
983
857
767
782


Midlothian
313
281
356
412
406
444


Moray
101
153
141
145
228
351


North Ayrshire
1,002
1,181
1,004
983
948
1,353


North Lanarkshire
2,829
3,052
3,168
2,972
2,518
2,800


Orkney Islands
20
8
21
13
25
46


Perth and Kinross
423
447
480
439
476
470


Renfrewshire
377
2,299
2,345
2,116
1,807
1,772


Scottish Borders
183
184
199
208
207
280


Shetland Islands
6
4
3
3
21
35


South Ayrshire
664
826
667
708
695
906


South Lanarkshire
2,541
2,197
2,293
2,141
1,971
2,360


Stirling
108
96
131
140
199
164


West Dunbartonshire
1,208
1,367
1,625
1,418
936
972


West Lothian
848
933
1,002
987
1,139
1,116

Employment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on skill shortages in the city of Edinburgh; which trades and professions are affected by skill shortages, and what steps have been taken to address the issue.

Allan Wilson: The Futureskills Scotland publications Skills in Scotland 2004 and Edinburgh and Lothian: Labour Market Profile Summer 2004 are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib. numbers 35294 and 35594 respectively.

Energy Efficiency

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to introduce energy-saving measures in buildings that it has responsibility for and what steps it has taken to encourage other public bodies to put such measures in place.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive’s organisational vision is to make the best use of resources in line with its Greening Government Policy. The Executive wishes to set the example on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in both Public and Private sectors, and its formal strategy is kept under constant review, it is revised to reflect policy development. The fourth Environmental Performance Annual Report (2003-) was published by the Executive in December 04:

  [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/18823/15134].

  Measures taken internally to date include:

  Victoria Quay maintaining its Environmental Management System (EMS) to ISO14001 standard;

  The Greening Government Policy:

  [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/CS/CS-ACC/00019627/contents.aspx].

  Further EMS are being developed in 13 main Scottish Executive buildings;

  Energy Efficiency benchmarking: the majority of Executive buildings achieved a "Good" Energy Efficiency rating, and all new Executive buildings now aim to have a "Very Good" BREEAM rating.

  Staff energy awareness campaigns are delivered to highlight the benefits of energy efficiency at both the workplace and in the home.

  upgraded lighting and heating controls have been installed, where suitable and evaluated as cost effective;

  All new computer equipment supplied on the Executive estate is Energy Star compliant.

  Measures taken to encourage the Public Sector:

  In June 2004, the Executive launched the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Initiative. (CEEF)

  The Executive also funds the Carbon Trust’s energy efficiency programme which aims to improve the energy efficiency of UK business and the public sector, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and costs. This includes design advice to ensure energy efficiency is incorporated into the design of both new and existing buildings. Any public body can take advantage of this service.

  In addition the Minister for Environment and Rural Development is leading the initiative to improve the environmental performance of Scottish Executive agencies and public bodies, they have been asked to:

  ensure they have an environmental management system in place by the end of 2005.

  report annually on their overall environmental management performance – which will include details of energy consumption, CO2 emissions and any reduction targets.

  The information collated from agencies and public bodies will be published on the Scottish Executive website.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the criteria and eligibility rules in respect of foreign footballers playing in the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League; what powers it has to restrict, limit or control players from (a) other EU and (b) non-EU states; what information it has in respect of the likelihood of players from non-EU nations seeking to come to Scotland through Lithuania and whether it will take any steps to address any issues arising, and how it will ensure that such steps are consistent with its desire to support youth development in football.

Patricia Ferguson: Freedom of movement within the EU means that footballers who are citizens of other member states are entitled to play for any football club in Scotland. Citizens of non-EU countries are subject to immigration legislation, which is a reserved matter. The Executive has no information on the likelihood of foreign footballers coming to Scotland whether through Lithuania or any other country.

  Where the Action Plan for Youth Football is concerned, the football authorities in Scotland are fully committed to its implementation.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information is not available in the form requested. However, in the age group up to the age of 18, it is estimated that, in the year ended March 2004, 1,500 males and 300 females were seen by general practitioners throughout Scotland in respect of hyperactivity disorders. This estimate is based on the activity of 63 Scottish general practices with a combined patient population of 341,778, and will not include patients whose condition is being managed by specialist services and who may not see their GPs in connection with it.

  The number of people over the age of 18 seen by the sample practices in respect of hyperactivity disorders is too low to allow a reliable estimate for the whole of Scotland to be made.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions of methylphenidate for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been dispensed and what the total cost has been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the tables below. The cost given is the cost of items before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges. Data in the tables refer to prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors, but do not take into account medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital based clinics.

  Table 1 – No. of Prescribed Items – Year ending 31 March

  

NHS Board
No. Prescribed Items


1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Argyll and Clyde
1,077
1,207
1,547
1,542
1,866
2,310


Ayrshire and Arran
625
984
1,195
1,385
1,890
2,103


Borders
235
317
485
612
894
1,210


Dumfries and Galloway
127
308
448
628
931
1,182


Fife 
1,973
2,811
3,235
3,659
4,651
5,281


Forth Valley 
836
1,216
1,392
1,396
1,676
1,792


Grampian
2,121
3,025
3,522
3,756
4,565
4,970


Greater Glasgow
1,523
2,029
2,160
2,253
2,718
3,085


Highland 
425
724
935
1,026
1,143
1,453


Lanarkshire
931
1,011
1,129
1,185
1,415
1,543


Lothian
2,825
3,266
3,120
3,685
4,012
4,578


Orkney
17
12
20
27
34
75


Shetland
82
133
190
205
208
218


Tayside
1,487
2,121
2,966
3,513
4,256
4,881


Western Isles
18
34
40
14
17
29


All NHS Boards
14,302
19,198
22,384
24,886
30,276
34,710



  Table 2 – Gross Ingredient Cost (£) – Year ending 31 March

  

NHS Board
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Argyll and Clyde
15,722
17,379
22,256
23,196
41,506
63,820


Ayrshire and Arran
10,548
16,523
21,023
25,060
50,361
59,000


Borders
3,649
4,749
7,861
10,272
15,486
29,186


Dumfries and Galloway
2,255
4,549
6,464
8,640
19,271
33,316


Fife
39,931
62,425
73,261
84,576
159,889
215,988


Forth Valley
11,969
19,927
23,975
26,579
37,626
47,212


Grampian
34,266
52,310
63,684
69,722
117,447
144,231


Greater Glasgow
24,700
33,371
36,816
37,418
61,403
90,620


Highland
6,128
10,548
13,908
16,191
20,985
36,091


Lanarkshire
14,653
16,275
19,127
20,280
31,362
41,821


Lothian
53,817
67,758
71,283
82,662
102,511
156,939


Orkney
193
197
445
485
524
1,933


Shetland
1,173
2,324
3,206
3,279
6,227
8,279


Tayside
32,329
47,352
63,911
72,009
121,741
182,384


Western Isles
329
614
566
173
189
608


All NHS Boards
251,662
356,301
427,786
480,542
786,527
1,111,428



  The information in the tables has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, what the level of funding is for further development of the Prescribing Information System for Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive Health Department agreed to contribute to the overall costs of the new Prescribing Information System for Scotland (PRISMS) by meeting the capital and non-recurring revenue costs. The costs for further developments will be accommodated within the recurring revenue costs that will be met by the NHS boards.

  Information about new PRISMS can be accessed at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/index.htm.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, what the remit of the medicines utilisation unit will be in addition to exploring the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database.

Mr Andy Kerr: The remit of the Medicines Utilisation Unit, currently under development within NHS National Services Scotland, is likely to include the provision of information and analysis of prescribing data to NHS boards to help them plan and manage their services. The remit will be discussed with key stakeholders from across NHS Scotland, including the Scottish Executive Health Department. Once agreed, the remit and work programme will be communicated to all stakeholders.

Hospitals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals have been inspected since the winding-up of the Scottish Health Advisory Service.

Mr Andy Kerr: Every health board in Scotland has been reviewed against the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) standards for schizophrenia (for the second time). A Scotland-wide review of services for people with learning disabilities is underway and will be completed in August 2005. All health board areas will be visited.

Licensing

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13123 by Mr Andy Kerr on 25 January 2005, who carried out the consultation referred to; who was consulted, and when it expects to bring into effect a Scotland-wide licensing regime monitored by local authority environmental health officers and supported by appropriate non-compliance penalties.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive undertook a consultation with stakeholders in public agencies, representative bodies, tattooing, and skin and body piercing businesses, about the possible tighter regulation of skin and body piercing to reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne and other infections.

  The purpose of the consultation was to assess the need for further controls of skin and body piercing and to explore the form such controls might take. The outcome of the consultation will be announced shortly.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist beds are available within the NHS for people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Rhona Brankin: It is not possible to provide an answer. Myalgic encephalomyelitis is not a separate specialty, and sufferers may be seen by a variety of specialists.

NHS Finance

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a separate scheme for payments to NHS boards based on deprivation criteria.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are currently no plans to introduce a separate scheme for payments to NHS boards based on deprivation criteria.

  Funds are allocated to NHS boards on the basis of the Arbuthnott formula. The Arbuthnott formula takes account of four main indicators to determine the level of funding allocated to each board. These are each board’s population size, age/sex structure, deprivation levels and remoteness. No specific allocation is made to boards for deprivation. The formula is used to determine the total level of funds allocated to boards for their unified budgets. It is for each board to decide how best to meet the health care needs of their resident population from the totality of the funds it receives, taking account of national and local priorities.

NHS Funding

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a report on the current stages of the review of the Arbuthnott Formula.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14556 on 21 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search .

  The first meeting of the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee, set up to improve and refine the Arbuthnott Formula, took place on Thursday 24 February, therefore at this stage there is nothing to report.

NHS Services

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were provided with oxygen concentrator services in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of the number of patients provided with oxygen concentrators are as follows:

  

NHS Board
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Argyll and Clyde 
199
225
202
207
228


Ayrshire and Arran
170
181
192
209
272


Borders
47
60
60
71
83


Dumfries and Galloway
119
134
129
152
166


Fife
122
166
178
207
207


Forth Valley
90
111
128
133
147


Grampian
119
158
155
186
203


Greater Glasgow
422
453
491
518
535


Highland
75
97
127
115
123


Lanarkshire
233
250
291
348
369


Lothian
303
364
405
431
433


Orkney
9
13
22
28
23


Shetland 
13
19
19
17
15


Tayside
219
244
239
244
247


Western Isles
33
37
43
47
55

NHS Services

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS boards require patients to be assessed by a respiratory consultant before providing oxygen concentrator services and, if not, which staff are authorised to determine the suitability of patients for such services, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Where a general practitioner is of the opinion that a patient may be in need of long-term oxygen therapy, or the patient is receiving this treatment by means of cylinder oxygen, the patient should be referred for assessment by a respiratory consultant.

NHS Services

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are authorised to assess patients for oxygen concentrator services, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Patients who require long-term oxygen therapy are referred to a respiratory consultant for assessment. Details of the respiratory consultants in each NHS Board area as at 30 September 2004 are given in the table below:

  

NHS Board
Headcount
Whole Time Equivalent


Argyll and Clyde
 6
 6.0


Ayrshire and Arran
 2
 2.0


Borders
 2 
 2.0


Dumfries and Galloway
 2 
 2.0


Fife
 2
 2.0


Forth Valley
 3
 3.0


Grampian
 8
 7.3


Greater Glasgow
 14 
 13.6 


Highland
 3
 2.6


Lanarkshire 
 7
 6.7


Lothian
 14 
 11.8


Orkney
 0
 0 


Shetland
 0
 0


Tayside
 2
 2


Western Isles
 0 
 0


Scotland Total
 65
 61

NHS Services

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Evidence Note 4, accident and emergency (A&E) department streaming system, issued by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in October 2003, what further study in clinical practice will be undertaken to establish the safety and clinical cost effectiveness of an accident and emergency streaming system in supplementing existing triage arrangements.

Mr Andy Kerr: The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Evidence Note reviewed the evidence, highlighted a gap in the evidence base and identified the need for further research in Scottish clinical practice in A&E streaming systems. NHS QIS does not have a remit to undertake such research but it is working with the Centre for Change and Innovation in its Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme which aims to improve emergency access for patients.

NHS Staff

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken towards fulfilling its commitment in the Partnership Agreement to develop an entitlement to continuous professional development, particularly with regard to nursing staff.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Department’s White Paper Partnership for Care  sets out our commitment to develop an entitlement to Continued Professional Development (CPD) for all health service staff.

  However, you may not be aware that NHS boards hold the budget for nursing and midwifery post-registration education, and therefore they need to work in partnership with nursing staff to ensure that they are supported and encouraged to develop and maintain their skills. In addition to this Facing the Future, the Nursing and Midwifery Recruitment and Retention Initiative has released £1.75 million for additional CPD in 2002-03 and again in 2003-04. In 2004-05 £1 million was given to NHS boards for CPD for nursing staff and another sum of £200,000 was provided for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) along with other more targeted funded initiatives.

  Also, NHS boards as employers will wish all healthcare professionals, not just nurses, to maintain their CPD to ensure that they continue to be registered with the relevant registration body as fit to practise. All health employers will now be reviewing their arrangements for CPD and other staff development as part of their implementation of the pay modernisation scheme we know as Agenda for Change.

NHS Staff

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the royal colleges regarding reducing training times for consultants.

Mr Andy Kerr: All aspects of postgraduate medical training in the UK are under review within the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) training reforms and Royal Colleges are well represented within the MMC delivery mechanisms. New training programmes for consultants and general practitioners, to the standards set by the UK competent authorities, are being discussed and will be developed in partnership with the Royal Colleges and other stakeholders. The Scottish Executive has established a Delivery Group to oversee the implementation of MMC in Scotland and medical Royal Colleges are represented on that committee.

NHS Staff

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant cardiology posts were unfilled in each of the last five years and how many it projects will be unfilled in each of the next three years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The table provides a breakdown by NHS board of the number of vacant consultant posts in cardiology since 2000.

  Consultant Cardiology Vacancies by Time and NHS Board (Headcount) at 30 September

  

 
Total vacancies


2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Scotland
-
-
 4
 6
 5


NHS Ayrshire and Arran 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Borders 
-
-
 2
 1
 1


NHS Argyll and Clyde 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Fife 
-
-
-
-
 2


NHS Greater Glasgow 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Highland 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Lanarkshire 
-
-
-
 3
-


NHS Grampian 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Orkney 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Lothian 
-
-
 1
 1
-


NHS Tayside 
-
-
 1
-
-


Special Health Boards 1
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Forth Valley 
-
-
-
-
 1


NHS Western Isles 
-
-
-
-
-


NHS National Services Scotland (formerly CSA)
-
-
-
-
-


NHS Dumfries and Galloway 
-
-
-
 1
 1


NHS Shetland 
-
-
-
-
-



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Note: 1. Comprises NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS Health Scotland.

  It is not possible to identify the actual number of unfilled posts over the next three years.

  However, we are committed to building consultant capacity within NHS Scotland.

NHS Waiting Times

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9715 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 August 2004, how the figure of 29 days as a median waiting time for a first out-patient neurology appointment in Lothian as at 31 March 2004 is consistent with the information contained in a letter from NHS Lothian to a constituent on 10 February 2005 which stated that he must wait approximately 68 weeks for an appointment at the surgical neurology out-patient department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS Lothian has confirmed that the waiting time for a first "routine" surgical neurology/neurosurgical out-patient appointment at the Western General Hospital is approximately 68 weeks. The NHS board is taking action to tackle these unacceptably long waits, and expects to meet the Executive’s target of having no patient waiting more than 26 weeks by the end of 2005.

  The earlier question (S2W-9715) related to first out-patient neurology appointments, which are handled at a different clinic by different clinical staff. Typically, patients would be referred to neurology clinics for investigation of disorders of the nervous system; patients would be referred to surgical neurology/neurosurgery for surgical intervention in relation to, for example, entrapped nerves.

  If a patient was assessed by the referring clinician as requiring attention quickly, their referral to the relevant clinic would be marked "urgent" rather than "routine". Waiting times for urgent referrals are much shorter.

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting time is for (a) coronary artery bypass grafts and (b) other cardiac surgery, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Coronary artery bypass grafts and other cardiac surgery are carried out at five NHSScotland hospital sites – Glasgow (two), Aberdeen, Lothian and Clydebank.

  The median waiting times for coronary artery bypass grafts and other cardiac surgery, by NHS board of residence, for the year ended 31 December 2004, are provided in the table.

  On 31 December 2004, no patient with a guarantee on the in-patient waiting list for coronary artery bypass graft surgery or angioplasty had waited more than 18 weeks for treatment.

  NHSscotland: Median Waiting Times1 for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts and Other Cardiac Surgery2, by NHS Board of Residence. Year Ended 31 December 2004P

  

NHS Board
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts
Median Wait
Other Cardiac Surgery
Median Wait


Argyll and Clyde
86 days
85 days


Ayrshire and Arran
88 days
71 days*


Borders
56 days*
51 days*


Dumfries and Galloway
78 days*
X


Fife
51 days
55 days*


Forth Valley
74 days
98 days*


Grampian
96 days
123 days*


Greater Glasgow
70 days
82 days


Highland
95 days
91 days*


Lanarkshire
76 days
100 days


Lothian
54 days
70 days


Orkney
X
X


Shetland
X
X


Tayside
74 days
110 days*


Western Isles
X
X


Scotland
75 days
85 days



  Source: SMR01, ISD Scotland.

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  X Figures not shown as the number of discharge records is very small (less than 15) and the presentation of the median is potentially misleading.

  *Figures should be treated with caution as they are derived from a possible unrepresentatively small number of discharge records – more than 14 but less than 50.

  1. Patients routinely admitted from the in-patient and day case waiting list from home. Includes patients with Availability Status Codes.

  2. Cardiac surgery is defined in terms of the Office of Population and Censuses and Surveys Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures 4th revision (OPCS4). The codes used are K25 to K35 or K40 to K46 as main operation. Coronary artery bypass grafts are defined as the subset K40 to K46 and other cardiac surgery as K25 to K35.

National Health Service

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made, and timescale set, for the establishment of independent advice bodies for patients’ complaints against the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is the role of NHS boards to ensure that there is a mechanism for providing independent advice to those who wish to make a complaint against the NHS in Scotland.

  We are working with Citizens Advice Scotland to develop arrangements to support NHS boards in delivering this role. The Scottish Health Council will be responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of NHS boards in ensuring that independent advice is provided.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what system of hospital inspection has been used to replace the Scottish Health Advisory Service.

Mr Andy Kerr: Since January 2003, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has established a Scotland-wide review programme of health services for users of mental health services and for people with learning disabilities. Further, NHS QIS is introducing a mental health framework and action plan that includes a number of support functions to underpin reviews. The main aim of this framework is to introduce integrated care pathways (IPCs) that cover the whole patient journey. A number of audits are also being carried out to establish a baseline. These include an audit of postnatal depression, an audit of in-patient psychiatric units and an audit of services for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).

Non-Domestic Rates

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses appealed against their assessed rateable value following the last revaluation of rateable values and, of these, how many were (a) wholly and (b) partly successful.

Mr Tom McCabe: Appeals against the 2000 Revaluation rateable value were submitted for a total of 76,238 subjects.

  No information is held centrally on how many individual appeals were wholly or partly successful.

Planning

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards incorporating into the Scottish planning system the recommendations in the first Stewart Report on the planning regulations for mobile phone masts.

Johann Lamont: In response both to the recommendations of the Stewart Report and of the Transport and Environment Committee’s inquiry into radio telecommunications, amendments were made to the planning legislation and guidance for telecommunications in 2001.

  The Executive published National Planning Policy Guideline 19 (Bib. number 15218), Planning Advice Note 62 (Bib. number 16043) and Circular 5/2001 (Bib. number 17462) to accompany these changes.

Prison Service

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish revised arrangements for the governance of the Scottish Prison Service.

Cathy Jamieson: I have today published a new framework document for the improved governance, operation and accountability of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

  Copies of the Scottish Prison Service framework document have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and are on the SPS website.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether residential care homes for the elderly can opt not to provide nursing care.

Rhona Brankin: Yes. Care home service providers can choose the type of care they provide - personal care, personal support or nursing care.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff have been seconded to it from other organisations since May 2004 and from which organisations these staff have been seconded.

Mr Tom McCabe: Since May 2004, 101 staff have been seconded from other organisations to the Scottish Executive. Of these 23 have been seconded from local authorities; 32 from NHS; 18 from other public bodies; 15 from other government departments; nine from the private sector; two from academic institutions; one each from Europe and the voluntary sector. A following tables outline details of the exporting organisations.

  

Local Authorities
Total
NHS
Total


Aberdeen City Council
2
Alison Lea Medical Centre
1


Argyll and Bute Council
1
Common Services Agency
1


City of Edinburgh Council
4
NHS Lothian
3


East Dunbartonshire Council
2
NHS Modernisation Agency
1


East Lothian District Council
1
NHS Scotland
1


Fife Council
2
NHS Tayside
1


Fife Constabulary
1
Perth Royal Infirmary
1


Pert and Kinross Council
1
Royal College of Nurses Scotland
1


Scottish Borders Council
1
Royal College of Physicians
1


Fife Special Housing Association
1
Salus Occupational Health 
1


Glasgow City Council
1
Scottish Ambulance Service
1


Grampian Police
2
Scottish Care Information
1


Highland Council
1
Fife Primary Care
1


Lothian and Borders Police
1
Healthskills Ltd.
1


Midlothian Council
1
Lanarkshire Primary Trust
1


Moray Council
1
Lothian Primary Care
1


Totals
23
NHS 24
2


NHS Argyll and Clyde
2


NHS Fife
1


NHS Grampian
1


NHS Greater Glasgow
2


NHS Highland
1


NHS Information Services
2


NHS Lanarkshire
2


Forth Valley NHS Board
1


Totals
32



  

Other Public Bodies
Total
Other Government Departments
Total


Alzheimer Scotland
1
Audit Scotland
1


Bórd na Gáidhlig
1
Crown Office
3


British Trout Association
1
FCO
1


Care Commission
1
Scottish Parliament
3


Community Enterprise in Scotland
1
Scottish Prison Service
3


Energy Saving Trust
1
Forestry Commission
1


Paul Zealey Associates
1
Home Office
1


Scottish Agricultural College
1
Immigration Advisory Service
1


Scottish Enterprise
5
Inland Revenue
1


Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
1
Totals
 


Scottish Legal Aid Board
1
 


Scottish Natural Heritage
1
 


Eaga Partnership
1
 


Scottish Social Services Council
1
 


Totals
18
15



  

Private Sector
Total
Academic Institutions
Total


Anderson Anderson and Brown
1
Glasgow University
1


Currie and Brown
1
Napier University
1


Dundas and Wilson
2
Totals
 


Ernst and Young
1
 


Partnerships UK
1
 


Price Waterhouse Coopers
1
 


Scottish Power
1
 


Lloyds TSB
1
 


Totals
9
2



  

Europe
Total
Voluntary Sector
1


Czech States Archives
1
SCVO
1


Totals
1
Totals
1

Supermarkets

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on loss of individual retailers from high streets and elsewhere in Scotland as a result of supermarket developments and what plans it has to develop high streets affected by such losses.

Johann Lamont: The Executive’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of town centres is set out in National Planning Policy Guideline  ( NPPG) 8:  Town Centres and Retailing . This requires Planning Authorities to take positive measures to sustain and enhance town centres.

  Information on the impact of supermarket developments upon numbers of individual retailers is not held centrally. However, the Scottish Executive research report Future Patterns Of Retailing In Scotland indicates that, as part of the extensive structural changes in retailing, there has been a reduction in the total number of shops in Scotland, from approximately 30,000 in the 1980s to an estimated 22,500 in 2000.

  Copies of NPPG8 and Future Patterns Of Retailing In Scotland have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 1081 and 35511 respectively).

Supermarkets

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations and planning guidelines govern supermarkets and whether there are any plans to limit the size of floor space of future supermarket developments.

Johann Lamont: Relevant national planning policy is set out in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 8: Town Centres and Retailing . This requires a "sequential approach" to selecting sites for all new retail developments, including supermarkets. Town centres should be the first choice, followed by edge-of-centre and then out-of-centre sites. NPPG8 also requires planning authorities to assess all retail planning applications against a wide range of factors. This includes consideration both of the potential impact on existing centres and the design, form and scale of the proposal.

  There are no plans to limit the size of future supermarket developments.

  A copy of NPPG8 is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 1081).

Supermarkets

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any proposals to regulate the location and size of supermarkets.

Johann Lamont: National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG)  8 : Town Centres and Retailing gives priority to locating new retail developments in town centres or other centres well served by public transport. However, it is for planning authorities to assess all applications for retail development against a wide range of factors and local circumstances.

  A copy of NPPG8 is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 1081).

Teachers

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided for local authorities in north east Scotland to train special needs teachers.

Peter Peacock: In 2005-06, the Scottish Executive will provide Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council and Dundee City Council with specific grant funding totalling £923,639 to support the professional development and training of staff working with pupils who have special educational needs.

Teachers

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that those undertaking training as primary teachers have the opportunity to benefit from placements across the primary sector during their training.

Peter Peacock: The current Guidelines for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) stipulate that students on courses leading to a Primary Education Teaching Qualification must undertake blocks of school placement which covers all stages of Primary school education.

  ITE courses leading to registration as a Primary school teacher must be validated and approved by the General Teaching Council for Scotland and must include periods of school experience for all students.

  The Executive has given financial support to local authorities to co-ordinate the management of student placements. £550,000 has been paid to local authorities in 2004-05 with a further £825,000 earmarked for 2005-06. This funding is also intended to encourage and support councils and head teachers to ensure that sufficient places are made available in their schools for all student teachers.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland are outstanding from non-Scottish qualified teachers.

Peter Peacock: Currently, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has 45 applications from non-Scottish teachers awaiting the first assessment process. In addition, there are 375 cases which have gone through the first assessment process. In these cases, assessors have written to applicants requesting further information or clarification of information already presented.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken is to deal with applications for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland from non-Scottish qualified teachers.

Peter Peacock: The General Teaching Council for Scotland does not calculate the average time taken to process applications from non-Scottish teachers seeking registration.

  Cases vary widely in complexity, depending for example, on country of origin, qualifications, teaching experience and disclosure issues. However, they aim to have all applications initially assessed within 10 working days. Following the initial assessment, an applicant will either be informed of the decision regarding registration or requested to provide further information.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to the criteria for dealing with applications for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland from non-Scottish qualified teachers.

Peter Peacock: It is for the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) to determine the criteria for dealing with applications from non-Scottish teachers. The GTCS has a strict registration policy, which ensures reliable and consistent decisions are made on the fitness and capabilities of non-Scottish qualified teachers for full registration. The criteria used by the GTCS in considering applications for registration includes academic and teaching qualifications, teaching experience and disclosure issues.

Teachers

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14006 by Peter Peacock on 23 February 2005 regarding the Chartered Teachers Programme, when a breakdown by subject will be available.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. We have asked the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and the relevant Universities to provide the breakdown requested. I will arrange for officials to send you the information as it is received.